Cathedral Basilica of Salvador

The Cathedral Basilica of Salvador is the seat of the Archbishop of Salvador, Brazil, and the Primate of Brazil. It was built by the Jesuits and consecrated in 1654. The church faces the Terreiro de Jesus plaza and overlooks the Bay of All Saints. It is a focal point of the Historic Center of Salvador, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Don't miss

• Façade made of light Lioz stone from Portugal, with statues of Jesuit saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, and Francis Borgia.
• Interior lined with Lioz stone, with a single nave and side chapels showcasing altarpieces from the late 16th to mid-18th centuries.
• Sacristy called 'Brazil's most exquisite', with jacaranda wood, 17th-century Portuguese azulejos, and a coffered ceiling with Mannerist motifs.
• Barrel vault over the nave decorated with 18th-century wooden panels, including a large Jesuit emblem 'IHS'.
• Paintings at the base of the nave in vivid colors with Asian design, painted by Jesuit Charles Belleville who lived in Macau.
• Tomb of Mem de Sá, the third governor-general of Bahia, beneath the high altar.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Cathedral Basilica of Salvador

Cheapest way inFun Walking Tour of San Salvador's Historic Center5★ · 210 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$20 per personSee dates →Most bookedVisit to the Cathedral of Santiago + Portico de la Gloria Option4.7★ · 550 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$26 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleReal City Tour San Salvador : Historic Center & Boqueron Park5★ · 15 travelers5-6 hoursFree cancellationFrom$85 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• Located on the Terreiro de Jesus plaza in the Historic Center of Salvador, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The cathedral is open to the public and may be visited.

A bit of history

The Jesuits arrived in 1549 and planned a college. The current church is the fourth on the site, built after the Dutch occupation destroyed the previous one. The cornerstone was laid in 1657 and the structure completed in 1672. The Jesuits were expelled from Brazil in 1759, and the church was transferred to the Archbishopric in 1765. The old cathedral of Salvador was demolished in 1933 to build a tram line, and the Jesuit church became the cathedral.